Can you risk discovery?'
'I'm curious,' Duwan said. 'These guardsmen seem to be the finest warriors of the enemy. I will test this one's abilities.' By the time Duwan reached the square, with Jai and Tambol following behind him, a crowd was beginning to form in the center. The guardsman was there, and white-robed priests were filing down the stairs of the temple. Duwan took his place in the open area. The crowd stared and pointed and there was a great deal of wagering going on, most of the bets being placed on the guardsman with the odds against Duwan. A priest walked to stand in front of Duwan, padded sheaths for weapons in his land.
'The captain allows you to use both your weapons,' the priest said.
'Will he use only the longsword?'
'Yes,' the priest said.
'Then if you will hold my shortsword for me I will be grateful,' Duwan said, extending his longsword for the priest to cover with the padded sheath.
The two combatants faced each other at a distance of a few paces.
'There is still time to give way, stranger,' the guardsman said.
'My sword arm needs exercise,' Duwan said.
The guardsman came in a rush, and the muffled thud of blade on blade came time and again. Duwan held up on offensive thrusts, wanting to determine the extent of the warrior's skill, and he was not disappointed. The guard captain seemed in a hurry to end the bout, his blade seemed to be a living thing, thrusting, slashing, hammering. So skilled were both men that gasps of admiration went up from the crowd, and Jai noted that the odds against Duwan kept going down until, as the shadows of the sun moved by inches and both combatants were drenched in sweat and no blow of either had penetrated the other's defenses, it was even money. After a lightning series of thrusts, all parried by Duwan, the captain stepped back. 'You fight well, stranger.'
'I have never faced a more worthy opponent,' Duwan said.
'Is your sword arm as weary as mine?' the captain asked.
'I fear so,' Duwan said. He tossed his sword, caught it deftly by the hilt in his left hand. 'But, since I fight in the manner of the ancients, I have a spare.'
The captain's face went grim and he came to the attack with a renewed fury. However, he had gauged himself to Duwan's right-handed technique and so, as he faced a left-handed attack, with Duwan unleashing all his offensive tricks, he had to give ground. Duwan was now eager to end it. He pressed his attack, going for the guardsman's head, for if there was a weakness in the captain's defense it was at head level. He saw his opportunity, sent a great smash downward, felt his padded blade thud into the enemy's skull but even as he felt the shock of impact his breath went out of him in a great huff as the captain's padded blade took him in a full slash on the stomach.
The guardsman went down, dazed, and Duwan fought to get his breath, felt a great wave of weakness as he could not breathe, fell to his knees, gasped and finally got wind into his lungs.
The officiating priest stepped forward. The crowd was screaming in delight. 'You are both dead,' the priest said. 'Let me commend you on a display of swordsmanship seldom seen in these peaceful days.'
'Stranger,' the captain said, getting to his knees, 'you've addled me properly.'
'And you have given me a blow I will feel for days,' Duwan said.
'When we meet again in the streets,' the captain said, 'I suggest that each of us take one half-step to the side.'
'A sensible suggestion,' Duwan said. He was reviewing the bout in his mind, trying to remember places where he could have applied this or that technique.
'If you seek a place in Arutan, come to the guards quarters and ask for Captain Hata. Your sword would be a valuable addition to the High Master.'
For a moment Duwan considered accepting the invitation. How better to learn all of the Enemy's secrets than as one of them? But then he reconsidered. He had enough information. 'I am honored,' he said. 'But I am a wanderer.'
'So be it,' Hata said, giving a polite little nod of his head. Duwan returned the nod. The crowd began to disperse, still haggling over coins. Jai came to stand behind Duwan.
'Are you hurt, Master?'
'I will ache for a while,' he said. He started walking toward the inn. He was tired. When his way was blocked by an
